Marine pollution and health in South Africa

Although the RSA does not have a serious marine pollution problem, rapid population growth and increasing industrialization make it imperative to assess the pollution status of coastal waters and to plan for future developments. All pollution on earth ends up in the sea, which consequently contains a mixture of substances, the effects of which on the biota and on human health are poorly understood. Many of these substances are accumulated by marine organisms and become ever more concentrated along the food chain; where man is at the top of the chain, he thus runs the greatest risk of all. Too much raw sewage is allowed to pollute the sea, the provision of sewage treatment plants being largely inadequate for the growing population. Notwithstanding the excellent work done by a number of South African organisations and individuals, and the sound basis of the country's anti-marine pollution legislation, a plea is made for greater co-operation between those whose expertise and/or official position would enable them to contribute to combating the problem.